Burnham expected to advance Labour’s electoral reform plans

Andy Burnham is expected to announce plans to advance electoral reform in his first conference speech as Labour leader, according to government sources cited by The Guardian. The proposals could eventually replace the UK’s first-past-the-post system with proportional representation. Burnham is expected to outline the plans in broad terms and commit to developing proposals before the next general election.

The changes, alongside planned social care reforms and closer ties with the European Union, could be included in Labour’s manifesto for public backing. The Guardian described the potential electoral changes as the most significant shake-up of the system since 1918. One option would be to establish a national commission on electoral reform.

Burnham endorsed such an approach at last year’s Labour conference, when he was mayor of Greater Manchester. The minister responsible for a representation of the people bill, Florence Eshalomi, has told MPs that Burnham remains committed to reform but that it would be premature to legislate for one particular model. Almost 100 Labour MPs supported the bill when it passed through Parliament earlier this month.

Polling by YouGov found that 53 per cent of MPs supported a review of first-past-the-post, suggesting that the proposal has majority support among those surveyed. The supplied material does not give details of the poll’s sample size. Opponents of proportional representation argue that it could produce unstable coalitions and make legislation harder to pass.

Burnham has argued that Britain’s political system is too centralised and London-focused, with two parties dominating at the expense of the UK’s nations and regions. The expected speech would begin a process rather than immediately change the voting system. Any eventual reform would require further proposals and, under the reported plan, public backing through a Labour manifesto.